(Football news) Crystal Palace have agreed to pay an initial fee of £17 million plus a further £9 million in add-ons for the Brazilian talent, as they ramp up efforts to restructure their assault following the departure of Wilfried Zaha. Franca, who can play across the front line as well as in midfield, piqued the interest of several Premier League clubs during a breakout season with Flamengo.

Chelsea and Newcastle had been connected with the adolescent, but Palace pounced. He’ll be in London this week for a physical and to clinch his move to Selhurst Park.

Franca is regarded as a tremendous talent in South America and would be a huge coup for Palace, who lost icon Zaha this summer after rejecting a new contract offer to join Galatasaray on a free transfer. França is scheduled to get a medical on Monday before heading to London to sign the contract. 

The agreement is said to include a €5 million (£4.3 million) incentive if Franca is nominated for the Ballon d’Or and a 20% sell-on clause for any fee that exceeds the £17 million Palace will pay up front.

Following the exits of Luka Milivojevic and James McArthur, Palace signed Jefferson Lerma on a free transfer from Bournemouth and remain hopeful of adding further reinforcements. However, Eberechi Eze has not signed an extension to his contract, which expires in 2025, and some of Palace’s other key players are being pursued.

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